Few NBA players have embodied the player empowerment era of basketball quite like 76ers guard James Harden. News in Philadelphia this summer has been dominated by the third trade request of Harden's career on the heels of the team's tempestuous Eastern Conference semifinals exit.
Harden, however, has had to share the limelight. Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard has also pushed for a trade, setting his sights on playing for the Eastern Conference Champion Heat after 11 seasons with Portland.
In a rare crossover event between two of the summer's biggest stories, Harden addressed Lillard's request in a Monday interview with USA Today.
"I see both sides of it," Harden said when asked whether Lillard's request and requests like it were good or bad for the league. "I see both sides because I went through it... (The organization doesn't) want to just give a player that basically is one of the best players that they’ve ever had in their organization away for nothing. So I get the organization’s side. And then I get the player’s side as far as wanting to play and wanting to be somewhere."
Harden declined to take a firm stance on Lillard's situation, opaquely suggesting players and teams in similar situations should try to "meet in the middle."
"That person has done so many great things for your organization, your franchise. But then, you don’t want to give that player away for nothing. So I get both sides," Harden said. "Just find a balance, meet in the middle, and hopefully both sides can come to an agreement."
Training camp for Philadelphia and the Trail Blazers opens Oct. 2.
